March 30, 1913

Mayor W.W. Eifert today found George H. Millar, councilman from the third ward, guilty of "immoral and indecent" conduct and fined him the maximum amount under the ordinance, or $50. Thus ends the case which was begun on the eve of a special election a week ago and which has held the attention of the city since that time.

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Posted Mar. 30, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 30, 2013 at 2:25 AM

Posted Mar. 30, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Mar 30, 2013 at 2:25 AM

» Social News

Mayor W.W. Eifert today found George H. Millar, councilman from the third ward, guilty of "immoral and indecent" conduct and fined him the maximum amount under the ordinance, or $50. Thus ends the case which was begun on the eve of a special election a week ago and which has held the attention of the city since that time.

It is openly charged and generally credited that the case against Millar came as the result of his refusing to support certain political programs of Mayor Eifert and City Attorney Boggs. Millar has been one of the four councilmen who have opposed Mayor Eifert's efforts to remove capable employees of the city to make room for his friends, and Eifert has been openly quoted as declaring that he would "whip Millar into line."

The case can only be appealed to the circuit court in a writ of review, which will survey the law points at issue. This will be done.

Although Millar was placed on trial for immoral conduct, City Attorney Boggs insisted on introducing evidence concerning Millar's methods of conducting the Manhattan Cafe. Mayor Eifert supported Boggs in every contention nearly through the case, overruling all of Attorney Newbury's objections. In nearly each case Newbury took exceptions.

The defense literally tore the prosecution's case to bits as far as the charge of immorality was concerned. The only witness brought to the prosecution to testify as to Millar's conduct at the Royal Rooming House was Meno F. Davis. He swore that he saw Millar at the Royal, with one of the inmates.

The defense impeached Davis, showing that he was a drug fiend, was drunk many times and thoroughly unreliable. Three other men, besides Millar, were in the room at the time Davis was there. This is all of the evidence concerning the immoral conduct introduced and Millar established that he was there for the purpose of carrying food from his cafe.